November 7, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 21 Letters to the Editor (continued from page 15) meeting). Yet the incumbents will argue endlessly that this is a “great deal” for the district and local taxpayers. Sustaining an increasingly top-heavy, salary-driven, ever growing administrative team will drive any school district off a financial cliff. Absent the steady flow of state funding of the past, the valuable staff and programs built over the years are sure to be affected. Therefore, we can anticipate above-cap budgets in the future. Change must happen now. As a taxpayer, parent, and voter for change, I’m supporting the Ben-David, Hermansen-O’Reilly and Vassiliou team. Lisa Sciancalepore Franklin Lakes Dear Editor: On Nov. 6, Wyckoff voters will choose among three candidates to fill two seats on the township committee. I urge everyone to cast only one vote for Eileen Avia. As a fellow educator, I have admired Eileen’s dedication to her students for many years. Once she makes a commitment, there is no stopping her! She gives her all to help her students learn and grow. Above all, I admire her sense of fairness. She recognizes that every student has a fundamental right to succeed. She will bring this level of commitment and her boundless energy to the Wyckoff Township Committee. I am confident that because of her strong sense of fairness, she will respond to every Wyckoff citizen equally with the same degree of caring and concern. She will speak up for everyone, and she will follow through on the issues with the same perseverance she exhibits as an educator. I feel privileged to know Eileen Avia professionally. I am proud to call her a friend, and I am certain that she will serve the people of Wyckoff with integrity. Connie Hagy Wyckoff Dear Editor: I support Kathie Schwartz for the Franklin Lakes Board of Education. My wife, Kathie, is the right choice for our community, our children, and our schools. Education dictates the future of our children and people should ask themselves what motivates a candidate to run for a position on the BOE and volunteer their time to serve the community. I know what motivates Kathie. She is dedicated to her own kids, committed to making sure that all children receive the education required to become future leaders, and passionate about giving back to the community that is her home. In these challenging times, Kathie has a proven track record. She is an independent thinker and works respectfully and collaboratively to support strong curriculum, in schools that are well run and where the administrators and teachers are held to high standards. This has been done while continuing to support low taxes and high property values. There is quite a bit of misinformation being disseminated about the incumbents, the administration, and school operations. This is divisive and does not move us forward. Great things have been accomplished and we need to remember that we all share a common goal to ensure our schools are well run in a fiscally responsible way. We should be celebrating those who work to support our community rather than vilifying them because they have different opinions. In addition, I have come to know Margaret Bennett and Jackie Veliky. They, too, have volunteered their time to selflessly support our community. I respect and support these three women’s dedication, intelligence, positive nature, open-mindedness, and strength to stand up for what they believe in to ensure the best interests of the community as a whole are being met. I ask you to vote for Schwartz, Bennett and Veliky, on Nov. 6. Wade Schwartz Franklin Lakes Dear Editor: I support the Rooney-Jepsen Republican team for Wyckoff Township Committee. As a former mayor and committeeman for 13 years, I have watched the current governing body in their daily efforts to control spending and limit the growth of government. They have done an outstanding job and will continue to do so. Our township committee has, year in and year out, overcome cuts in state aid, less money from the county, and still kept the municipal tax portion at either no increase or a very modest one. When one looks at the services that residents have in our township, we are envied by many other communities. I have known Kevin Rooney for many years while serving on the zoning board, and have seen his outstanding job on the committee during the past three years, and he deserves to be re-elected. Haakon Jepsen, while newer to the governing body, has served admirably on one of our local boards, so he already has the necessary background to learn and serve. I truly believe that because of their experience they have the knowledge to serve on the governing body. Let’s not have on-the-job training. I plan to vote for the Rooney-Jepsen team for township committee on Nov. 6, and ask others to do the same. Anthony Avia Wyckoff Dear Editor: As a lifelong resident of Wyckoff, I am writing this letter to support the candidacy of Haakon Jepsen and Kevin Rooney to the Wyckoff Township Committee. I’ve come to know Haakon and his family through Saint Elizabeth’s Church and he is truly an asset to this community. His idealism and ethical standards are second to none. Haakon’s wife grew up in Wyckoff, and they chose to return to raise their two wonderful daughters here. As a lifelong resident, it cheers me to hear of residents who grew up in Wyckoff and then returned to raise their own families. This speaks volumes about the legacy of conservative Republican leadership we have here in Wyckoff. Haakon always acts with patience and looks for the best solution to suggestions and issues. He is one of the most sensitive and caring men I’ve had the opportunity to meet. He has become a true friend; he is all about honesty and integrity. I have worked with him on civic committees and he always gives 100 percent dedication to the project that needs to be completed. Haakon is a very special person who represents a new generation of leadership. The Township of Wyckoff would truly benefit from having his representation. I am endorsing a vote for the Republican team of Haakon Jepsen and Kevin Rooney on Nov. 6. Brian M Prendergast Wyckoff Dear Editor: All Wyckoff voters have an opportunity to elect a member to the Wyckoff Township Committee. I have tremendous respect for the electorate to make the right choice. In years past, voters have looked beyond partisan politics and voted for the right person to represent the residents of this municipality. In 2008, Brian Scanlan was elected to the Wyckoff Township Committee. Last year, he was once again overwhelmingly reelected because of his dedication to doing the right thing for Wyckoff. I have had the opportunity over the past few years to get to know Eileen Avia. She cares deeply about our community, and because of that, decided to get involved so she can make a difference. Eileen raised two children in Wyckoff as a single mother, has been an educator in the district, was a member of the Wyckoff Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and has been involved in countless other volunteer groups in town. Eileen will work to find ways to reduce expenses and limit tax increases. She will bring a diverse viewpoint as the only woman on the committee. I hope you will join me in casting your ballot for Eileen Avia for the Wyckoff Township Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Brian J. Hubert Wyckoff O’Reilly, and Vassiliou have the background and experience to provide the leadership and guidance needed to move the Franklin Lakes K-8 District in the right direction. Michael Ben-David, for example, is not just an attorney with a legal background. He is also an accomplished educator, having previously worked as a high school teacher. He is currently the principal of Anthony Wayne Middle School in Wayne. Michael’s depth of knowledge and his dedication to education at this level is unparalleled and distinguishes him as a candidate. He clearly has the skill set to be an exceptional board member, and we are fortunate that Michael is willing to volunteer for the board. Shirley, likewise, is uniquely qualified to be a board member. She has a successful career as a director in the compliance division of Standard and Poor’s, and has been involved with education locally and with a Pencil partnership with a K-8 school in Brooklyn, New York. She has already demonstrated her commitment to our children through her volunteer efforts on the PTA and as a class mother. Dr. Vassiliou, an associate professor of immunology at Kean University, has three children in the district and is committed to quality education. In my opinion, Michael, Shirley, and Evros are the clear choices. Michael Friscia Franklin Lakes Avia will serve with integrity Endorses Jepsen & Rooney Schwartz is right choice Casting a vote for Eileen Avia Dear Editor: We commend all four Wyckoff citizens who stepped up to run for the two available, three-year seats on the K-8 school board. As parents of four children, two of whom are in the K-8 system, we endorse candidates Chris DellaPietra and John Carolan. We have known Chris DellaPietra for 15 years. Chris is a man of impeccable ethics and integrity, and a successful attorney. He is a devoted husband and father of three wonderful children who attend Washington and Eisenhower schools. We have watched with pride as he has served with distinction on the K-8 school board over the past year. Chris already knows the challenges the board faces executing its commitment to educational excellence while simultaneously protecting the taxpayers. We know it is a delicate balancing act, but Chris strikes the perfect balance on the board. He has no agenda other than what is in the best interests of our children and the community’s tax dollars. John Carolan is equally committed to the community; he is a proud husband, and a loyal father to two children in Sicomac and Eisenhower schools. We have had the pleasure of knowing the Carolan family for nine years. John works for a Fortune 100 company and will bring over 20 years of experience in operations and budgeting to the board. The community will benefit from John’s business experience as 72 percent of Wyckoff’s tax dollars are devoted to the schools. John knows that our kids get one chance to go through elementary and middle school, and he will fight hard to provide educational opportunities for them, while paying close attention to the burdens on the taxpayers. Please join us in supporting Chris DellaPietra and John Carolan for the Wyckoff K-8 School Board. Chris and Patti DePhillips Wyckoff Endorsement for DellaPietra & Carolan Voting for Rooney and Jepsen Dear Editor: I urge Franklin Lakes voters to join me in supporting Michael Ben-David, Shirley Hermansen O’Reilly, and Evros Vassiliou in the upcoming school board election in Franklin Lakes. While it is commendable that all of the candidates are willing to dedicate their time to assist with the education of our children, I believe that Ben-David, Supporting Ben-David, Hermansen O’Reilly & Vassiliou